Control-valve mechanism



w J. M. HORN CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM May 1, i928. 1,667,860

Filed March 16. 1925 5 Sheets-Shae: 1

INVENTOR WGMGL'W ATTORNEY Ma 1, 1928. m suse J. M. HORN CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM Filed March 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet '2 75 Fig.3

INVENTOR ATTOR N EY /Vam 4W May 1, 1928.

J. M. HORN CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM Filed March 16, 1925 5 Sheets-sheaf:

lNVENTOR QW-M 81% v a g ATTORN EY May 1, 1928.

' E,667,860 J. M. HORN CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM Filed March 16, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 PL 5 90 68 fl' f5 i j 40 00 J I z w 28 I 57 5562 g 2/ INVENTOR MZMM May 1, 1928. 1,667,860 J. M. HORN CONTROL VALVE MECHANISM Filed Ma ch 16. 1925 5 Shenecs-Sheev 5 INVENTOR Z- W Ill/l ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1928.

JOSEPH M. HORN, OF FORT WAYNE,

era

earner crates.

INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE PERll/IU'JJIT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, 11'. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

CONTROL-VALVE IEECHANISM.

My invention relates to control valve mechanism adapted to secure a regulated intermittent withdrawal of liquid from a container the contents of which are under pressure; and is especially designed for use on a continuous water softening apparatus in which zeolites or other comminute'd base exchange materials are used as the water softening agent.

My invention has been successfully used in connection with a water softener of the kind illustrated and described in the pending application of Carl H. Nordell, Serial No. 561,095. filedMa-y 15th, 1922.

The purpose of the invention is to intermittently, but at substantially equally spaced intervals. withdraw liquid in substantially equal charges from a container in which the liquid is under pressure. In a zeolite water softening apparatus the coin tainer from which the liquid is withdrawn is. the zeolite washing chamber, and this valve mechanism controls the withdrawal.

This control valve mechanism can always be used to withdraw liquid. from a container under higher pressure than that into which the outlet discharges even if the pressure in the first receptacle is merely atmospheric, providing that of the second is then below atmospheric pressure.

In the particular embodiment of my in,- vention selected for illustration:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the upper part of a Nordell water softener of the type above designated, with my invention operativelv connected thereto: 7

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view of my invention only;

Fig. 4': is an axial section on the line 14 of Fig. 3. except that certain connecting members are shown in full line and the outlet control valve has been moved around to the left (from the showing of Fig. 3) for clearer illustration. The check valve .is here shown in closed position and the relief valve in open position:

Fig. 5 is the same as 4., except that the check valve is here shown in open position and the relief valve in closed position;

Fig. C. an enlarged detail. is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig.3. It is a detail of the trip mechanism for reversing the movement of the piston;

Fig. 7, an enlarged detail, is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, with the tri latch removed;

Fig. 8, an enlarged detaihis atop plan view of the brine check valve shown in side elevation in Fig. 1, audits operation is controlled by the control valve mechanism;

Fig. 9 is avertical axial section of the brine check valve on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is the tank in which water is softened by bringing it into contact with revivified zeolites or other base exchange material in comminuted form. 2 is the chamber in which zeolites that have been regenerated by bringing them into contact with brine in the regenerating chamber 3, are washed free of brine after they have been passed from the chamber-'3 to the chamber 2 through pipe 4.

Flow of brine to the regenerating chamber 3 is intermittent and is supplied from tank 5 through the pipe 6 and the poppet valve 7 whenever the unbalancing of pressure in the system controlled by the mechanism, which is the subject of this invention,

leaves a greater pressure on the side 8 than on the side 9 0f sa1d'valve 7; it being understood that this difference in pressure must be sufficient to overcome the pressure of the spring 10. causing the poppet 11 to become unsea-ted and allow passage of the charge of brine therethrough.

The set screw 12 is threaded in the body of valve 7 so as to adjustably limit the lifting of the poppet 11 from its seat 13.

An. expansion chamber 14: is connected by pipe 15 to the water softening tank 1 andby pipe 16 to the brine tank 5. When this brine tank 5 is to receive a new supply of salt through the top head 17 the valve 18 is closed.

The control. valve mechanism has a base 19 which is secured by cap screws 20 or in any other suitable manner to the top of the washing chamber 2. This base includes a bottom head 21 which is bored axially and threaded to receive a valve casing 21 The valve casing 2F has a ball valve 22 adapted to seat at 23 and this valve 22 is normally held in position by pressure of spring 24, which rests at the bottom on horizontal partition 25, which is provided with an inlet port 26. The valve casing 21 is bored axially at 27 to receive a pusherpin 28, which is made with flattened sides, or hexagonal, or of other convenient shape so as to permit the passage of water between said pusher-pin 28 and said bore 27 when the ball valve 22 is in unseated position. The pusher-pin is connected by a universal joint 29 with the reciprocating rod 30, which passes through the axial bore of a piston 31, adapted to reciprocate in the chamber of cylinder 32, which cylinder is secured between the bottom head casing 21 and the top head and trip mechanism sup port 33 by tie bolts 34.

At the top of the piston 31 is provided a stufling box 35. to the upper portion of which is secured a coupling 36. and t0 the top of this coupling is secured the piston rod 37, which passes upwardly through a hole 38 in the top head and trip mechanism support 33. To the top of this piston rod 37 is secured an extension block 39 which is pivoted to a lever 40.

The reciprocating rod 30 passes through the stuffing box 35, the coupling 36, piston rod 37, extension block 39, and lever 40, and is provided at the top with a universal joint41, with which is connected the eyebolt 42, which is pivoted to the walking beam 43 by bolt 44.

The walking beam is supported by post 45 to which it is pivoted by bolt 46, and this post 45 is secured to and supported by the top head and trip mechanism support member 33.

The bottom head casing 21 is bored vertically at 47 and horizontally at 48 to form an outlet port. The horizontal bore 48 is threaded to receive a nipple 49. which nipple is threaded into the side of relief valve casing 50, forming an inlet port. The relief valve casing 50 is bored axially and provided with a plug 51 at the bottom and has a valve seat 52, and is bored horizontally at 53 to receive a nipple 54, which constitutes an outlet port.

To the nipple 54 is secured an outlet pipe connection 55 and a valve 57, the line ter minating in a pipe 56 having a goose-neck 58 to prevent the line from draining and admitting air, for air would cause the salt in the waste brine to crystallize and corrode the valve mechanism. The rapidity with which the valve mechanism operates is controlled by the setting of the valve 57; the

Wider open it is the more rapidly the piston 31 will reciprocate and the faster the valve mechanism be thrown.

. The relief valve casing 50 is provided at the top with a stufiing box 59, and within the valve body is a valve rod 60 having a poppet valve 61 adapted to seat on valve seat 52 when the valve rod is in its raised position.

The valve rod 60 is flattened at 62 to permit the passage of the escaping liquid from the outlet port of the pressure valve through the nipple 49, through the relief valve and outat its outlet port through the nipple 54.

The valve rod 60 is connected by a universal joint 63 to a connecting rod 64 which passes through a hole in the top head and trip mechanism support 33 and is secured at the top to an eye-bolt 65.

An upper section 66 of the connecting rod 64 has an eye-bolt 67 pivoted to the other end of the walking beam 43 by bolt 68, and at its lower end is secured to an eye-bolt 69.

A cam arm 70 is formed with a fork 71 on its inner end and within this tork are placed the eye portions of the eye-bolts and 69, and the bolt 72 secures said eye-bolts and cam arm together, acting as a pivot for all parts. At its outer end the cam arm terminates in a cylindrical portion 73 with a bore 74 larger than the shaft 75, which. shaft is fixed at each end in one of the lugs 77 ot the bracket 76, which is in turn secured to the top head and trip mechanism support 33 by screws 76 On its outer side the cylindrical portion 73 of the cam arm 70 is counterbored and is provided with a ball bearing 78 secured in position by set screw 7 8*, and on its inner side has a hub 82 on which is seated an oscillating cam block 83, which is provided with a ball bearing 84 secured in position by set screw 34. The cam block 83 is secured to the hub 82 by a set screw 85. above in a cam 86, whose faces 87 and 88 are preferably inclined at such angles as will substantially equalize the pressure of the roller 89 thereon. The roller 39 is journalled in the fork 93 of the spring arm 92 by pivot 91 and has ball bearing 90. The spring arm 92 is pivoted on a stud bolt 94 secured to a rocker arm 95. A coiled spring 96 on the stud bolt 94 bears at one end against the rocker arm 95; its other end is hooked into the spring arm 92 at 97 and tends to keep the roller 89 pressed against the cam 86.

On the end of the weight lever 40 on the pressure valve side is a wei ht 40 whose position is adjustable on said weight lever and fixed in position by means of a set screw 40". A screw 40 through the lever 40 is ad justcd to suitably limit the downward movement of said weight lever. At the other end of the weight lever 40 is secured a blocl: composed of a fixed section 98 and an outer section 99, adjustable by means of the screws 100. This block is held in position in a pcripheral recess 102 in an enlarged collar 101 on the shaft 75. This collar has enlarged bore 103 and is provided with ball bearings 104, 105 secured in position by set screws 104 and 105 respectively. To this collar The cam block 83 terminates 101 is fixed the rocker arm 95. Spacing washers 7 9, 79* and 81 keep the parts on the shaft 75 in proper relative position, and set collars 80 and 80 secure the shaft 75 against axial movement.

To the upper side of the top head and trip mechanism support 33 is fixed a forked bracket 106 held in position by screws 106. A bent lever 107 is secured to the bracket 106 by pivot 108. A spring 109 tends, by raising the horizontal arm of the lever, to keep the lever in position shown in Fig. 6 until the pressure on the top of the horizontal arm of the lever 107 by the adjustable screw 40 compresses the spring 109 and frees the latch 110 from the keeper 111, which is secured by a machine screw 111 to the camarm 70. When the bentlever 107 is in the, position shown in Figs. 1,4 and 6 the pressure valve is shut and the relief valve is open; and when in the position shown in Fig. the pressure valve is open and the relief valve is closed. I The operation of the mechanism 18 as followsz. p

Assuming that all parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, that is with the pressure valve 22v closed and the relief valve 61 open, the space in the cylinder 32 below the piston 31 filled with waste wash water and spent brine, which is slowly passing out of the system by way of the port 4749 past fiat places 62 of valve ,rod through port 54. and through valve 57 and tube'56 to the drain; the piston 31 is gradually being lowered as the water flows out, by means of the pressure exerted by the weight 40 through the'lever 40, and this continues until the screw 40 presses down the horizontal arm of the bent lever 107 until'the latch 110 is loosed from the keeper 111. While this has been taking place the roller 89 has climbed up the face 87 and the cam 86, passed over the point and down the face 88 in the position shown in Fig. 5.

Meantime through the walking beam 43, as

thepiston rod 87 lowered, the connecting rod 64 raised until when the pusher-pin 2S un-.

seated the ball valve 22 just as the piston 31 reached low position. the valve 61 closed on the seat 52 cutting off the flow of liquid from the chamber of the cylinder 32, through the pipe 56 to drain. valve 22 the liquid which is under pressure in the base 19 is forced up through the open I ing 26 past the flattened sidesof the pusherpin 28 and into the lower part of the chamber of cylinder 32, raising the piston 31, the lever 40, the weight 40, and carrying the roller 89 back over the point of the cam 86 into contact with the face 87, the latch 110 again hooking over the keeper 111, all as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. ,I

It will be understood that the screw 40 is so set that the latch 110 will not be released Upon opening the the position shown in Fig. 5, causing the roller 89 to rapidly descend the face 88 of V the cam, closing the relief valve and opening the pressure valve. On the return move ment, when the roller 89 has just passed the point of the cam 86, the spring 96 causes the cam block 83 to quickly oscillate to the right into the position shown in Fig. 4, at the same time throwing the latch over the keeper, opening the relief valve and closing the pres-sure valve. 7

,When the normal demands of service from a water softening apparatus equipped with my improved control valve are great the valve 57 is set so as to permit a rapid flow of the liquid to waste, and as thenorn1al demand for soft water is decreased the open ing through this valve is decreased proportionately, slowing down the flow and consequently slowing down the time of each complete cycle. For instance, on one such apparatus where there are only two in the family to be served with soft water the deviceis now completely softening 35 grain water operating on two minute cycles, whereas, an exactly similar apparatus operating on the same water supplying a family of seven, the device is set on 45 seconds cycle-s. The purpose of setting the device to supply normal demand is to prevent excessive salt consumption in regenerating the zeolite.

I have found that generally it is preferable to set the device on about one minute cycles which will provide an average sized family with more soft water, even where very hard water is being softened, than there will. be any normal demand for.

I have described one cycle and these are automatically repeated indeiintely by the force of the liquid under pressure.

Many changes may be made in the mechanism shown herein without departing from the spirit of my invention and I claim as within the scope of my invention all such changes.

1 claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:- I

1; in combination with a liquid container the contents of which are under pressure, a valve mechanism to control and regulate the intorn'iittent withdrawal of liquid from said. container; said mechanism comprisingacylinder, a casing having a fluid passage from said container to a chamber within said cylinder, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said cylinder, a piston rod for said piston, a weighted lever to which said piston rod is pivoted, n'ieans for regulating the length of stroke of said piston, a valve to open and close said passage from said container to the cylinder chamber, means for opening said valve, a walking beam, said means pivoted above to one end of said walking beam, a support for said walking beam, a relief valve, fluid connections from'said cylinder chamber to said relief valve, a connection for opening and closing said reliefvalve, said connection pivoted at the other end of said walking beam, means for oscillating said walking beam; said mechanism being so adjusted as to permit one and only one olsaid valves to be open at a time so as to allow said liquid to flow from said container to said cylinder chamber and thence to Waste.

2. A valve mechanism comprisinga chamber having inlet and outlet passages, a valve in said inlet passage, a valve in said outlet passage, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said piston, a weighted lever pivoted to said piston rod, a walking beam supported above said chamber, said walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and a plunger for operating said valve in said inlet passage, and at the other end a rod for operating said valve in said outlet passage, the oscillation of said walking beam closing one valve and opening the other.

3. A valve mechanism comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet passages, a valve in said inlet passage, a valve in said outlet passage, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said piston, a weighted lever pivoted to said piston rod, a Walking beam supported above said chamber, said walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and a plunger -for operating said valve in said inlet passage, at the other end a rod for operating said valve in said outlet passage, the oscillation of said walking beam closing one valve and opening the other and means for regulating and limiting the rate of flow of liquid through the valve in said outlet passage.

4. A valve mechanism comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet passages, a Valve in said inlet passage, a valve in said outlet passage, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said piston, a weighted lever pivoted to said piston rod, a walking beam supported above said chamber, said Walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and a plunger for operating said valve in said inlet passage, and at the other end a rod for operating said valve in said outlet passage, said valve rod passing through said piston and piston rod, the oscillation of said walking beam closing one valve and opening the other.

5. A valve mechanism comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet passages, a valve in said inlet passage, a valve in said outlet passage, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said pis ton, a weighted lever pivoted to saidpiston rod, a walking beam supported above said chamber, cam actuated means for oscillating said walking beam, said walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and a plunger for operating said valve in said inlet passage, and at the other end a rod foroperating said Valve in said outlet passage, the oscillation of said walking beam closing one valve and opening the other.

6. A valve mechanism comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet passages, a valve in said inlet passage, a valve in said outlet passage, :1 piston adapted to be'reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said piston, a weighted lever pivoted to said piston rod, a walking beam'supported above said chamber, cam actuated means foros'cillating said walking beam, said walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and a plunger for operating said valvein said inlet passage, and at the other end a rod for operating said valve in said outlet passage, said valve rod passing through said piston and piston rod, the oscillation of said walking beam closing one valve and opening the other. i

7. A valve mechanism comprising a charm her having inlet and outlet passages, a valve in said inlet passage, a valve in said outlet passage, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said piston, a weighted lever pivoted to said piston rod, a walking beam supported above said chamber, cam actuated means for oscillating said walking beam, said walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and a plunger for operating said valve in said inlet passage, at the other end a rod for operatin said valve in said outlet passage, said valve rod passing through said piston and piston rod, the oscillation of said walking beam closing one valve and opening the other and means for regulating and limiting the rate of flow of liquid through the valve in said outlet passage.

8. A valve mechanism comprising a cham her having inlet and outlet passages, a valve in said inlet passage, a spring tending to hold said valve in seated position, a pusherpin to unseat said valve against the pres sure of said spring, a valve in said outlet passage, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said piston, a weighted lever pivoted to said piston rod, a walking beam supported above said chamber, said Walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and a plunger for operating said valve in said inlet passage, and at the other end a rod for operating said in said inlet passage, a spring tending to hold said valve in seated position, a pusherpin to unseat said valve against the pressure of said spring, a valve in said outlet passage, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said piston, a weighted lever pivoted to said piston rod, a Walking beam supported above said chamber, said Walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and .a plunger for operating said valve in said inlet passage, at the other end a rod for operating said valve in said outlet passage, the oscillation of said walking beam closing one valve and opening the other and means for regulating and limiting the rate of flow of liquid through the valve in said outlet passage.

10. A valve mechanism comprising a chamber having inlet and outlet passages, a valve in said inlet passage, 9. spring tending to'hold said valve in seated position, a pusher-pin to unseat said valve against the pressure of said spring, a valve in said outlet passage, a piston adapted to be reciprocated in said chamber, a piston rod for said pis ton, a Weighted lever pivoted to said piston rod, a Walking beam supported above said chamber, cam actuated means for oscillating said Walking beam, said Walking beam carrying at one end a guide rod for the piston and a plunger for operating said valve in said inlet passage, at the other end a rod for operating said valve in said outlet passage, the oscillation of said Walking beam closing one valve and opening the other, and means for regulating and limiting the rate of flow of liquid through the valve in said outlet passage.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH M. HORN. 

